Sensing an opportunity to put the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi under the mat, the Delhi BJP on Thursday marched in all the trader dominated wholesale markets of central Delhi in a bid to reach the Prime Minister’s House. All the 19 BJP MLAs, who took a part in the protest march, were detained at Ajmeri Gate and prevented from moving to 7 Race Course Road.
As all the BJP legislators have been expelled from the House, the party chose trader dominated areas and markets like Kashmiri Gate, Lahori Gate, Khari Baoli, Fatehpuri, Ghanta Ghar, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar and Ajmeri Gate. Interestingly, none of these areas would face the sealing squads of the MCD as they were set up before 1962.
“The sealing drive has reminded the traders of the days in emergency. For many it reminds of 1947 when they were displaced,” said Leader of Opposition Jagdish Mukhi. The BJP leader claimed that the party would suggest a certain formula to the Prime Minister which can legally save the shops from being sealed. Asked what the formula was, Mukhi said he would reveal it later.
In the Assembly also, the BJP state unit president Harsh Vardhan launched a frontal attack on the government. “Sealing is being carried out under the shadows of machine guns. Such atrocities were not committed in Delhi even during the British and the Mughal periods,” Vardhan said.
{{/usCountry}}In the Assembly also, the BJP state unit president Harsh Vardhan launched a frontal attack on the government. “Sealing is being carried out under the shadows of machine guns. Such atrocities were not committed in Delhi even during the British and the Mughal periods,” Vardhan said.
{{/usCountry}}The BJP president was one of the two MLAs who have not been expelled from the House. He said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report of the Delhi Assembly has confirmed bungling in power privatisation and issuing of license for Smart cards. “The chief minister has committed contempt of the House by failing to inquire into both the bunglings within a fixed time frame,” he said.
Harsh Vardhan said under the Rules of the House, the members should have been apprised of the Action Taken Report within three months of the PAC report. He reminded that the report was tabled in the House on March 9 and the period of 3 months has already lapsed.
Speaker Chaudhary Prem Singh asked chief minister Sheila Dikshit to explain it to the House in view of the seriousness of the issue.
Email: ashukla@hindustantimes.com